Cork Simon: The Cork Simon Coffee Morning campaign will take place again this year in the month of March. Would you consider holding a coffee morning in aid of Cork Simon? If you would like to host your own coffee morning call 021-4621166 or email coffeemorning@simon.ie or visit the Cork Simon website.

Clonmult Ambush: The 11.00 a.m. Mass in Clonmult this Sunday is offered for those killed in the Clonmult Ambush. Prayers and an oration by Tom O’Neill at the Ambush site at 12.30 p.m. this Sunday. All welcome.

Anam Cara: The organisation that supports bereaved parents is holding a monthly parent evening on Wednesday, 7th March from 7.30 to 9.00 p.m. in the Clayton Hotel, Silver Springs, Cork. This event is open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of death, or whether the death was recent or not.

Irish Blood Transfusion Service: A blood donor clinic will be held in Midleton Park Hotel on Wednesday, 28th February from 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. And Thursday, 1st March from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. & 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

County Semi-Final Scór Na bPaisti.

The County Semi-Final of Scór Na bPaisti was held in Ovens on Saturday 10th February, 2018. Participants on the Saturday were the winners of Avondhu, Seandun, Duhallow and Imokilly, with two to qualify from each category.
The Dungourney representative, Brian Flynn who had won the East Cork Final, the previous Sunday was the Imokilly performer in the Recitation Category. Brian performed “The Hurler on the Ditch”, togged out in his Dungourney kit along with his Caman and leather Sliotar.
Brian gave an excellent performance on the day and despite stiff competition from the other candidates, he qualified for the County Final which will be held in Eire Og Pavilion, Ovens on Saturday 3rd March at 1.30pm.
This is a great achievement for Brian, as it will be great to see the Dungourney colours on stage in a County Final.

Impressive scenes were witnessed at Midleton on Wednesday night when 10 coffins, containing the remains of those killed at Clonmult, arrived from Cork. The Church bells tolled from 4 p.m., though it was 9 o’clock before the hearses arrived. Dense crowds filled the streets. Cannon O’Connor, P.P., and the curates of the parish headed the cortege.
Rev. J. Kelleher, C.C. Drumcondra (a native of Midleton) celebrated the Requiem Mass yesterday, after which the coffins, covered with the Tricolour, were carried by Volunteers to the Rosary Cemetery adjoining. The remains were interred side by side in one large plot near the church. Only a limited number-principally the chief mourners-were permitted to enter the graveyard till the coffins had been covered over. Innumerable wreaths were placed on the graves. No crown forces visited the town during the obsequies. All shops are still closed in token of general mourning.

TWO AT COBH
The chimes of St. Colman’s Cathedral pealed “Let Erin Remember” as in one grave at the old church cemetery were interred the two Cobh victims. The huge attendances resembled the memorable procession at the funeral of the Lusitania victims. Republican flags covered the coffins, and there were a great number of wreaths. Military ordered shops to open in the morning, but those in the streets through which the cortege passed remained closed.

The remains of Richard Hegarty, another Clonmult victim, were brought to Ballymacoda, Youghal. The report that a Killeagh man was killed is incorrect.

The bodies of 12 of the 13 civilians who were killed in an encounter with military at Clonmult, near Midleton, on Sunday, were taken to the Victoria Barracks, Cork yesterday.
It is believed five of the victims belonged to the town of Midleton. Relatives travelled to Cork to identify the remains and arrange burial.

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE
An official communique issued by the G.H.Q. states-
“Further official details of the conflict which took place near Midleton, Co. Cork, on Sunday, show that a desperate defence was put up by the rebels, who were eventually compelled to leave the open and take cover in the house. Police reinforcements were quickly on the scene and the house was set on fire to drive out the defenders. Some came running out of the house, with hands up, while others continued to fire on the Crown forces as they went to accept the surrenders. The Commandant of the Midleton Co., Irish Republican Army, was amongst those killed. In addition to the large quantities of bombs, rifles and ammunition, a motor car was also captured.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Dungourney Church on Thursday at 8.00 pm.

Last Weekend’s Collection: Door €328.04.

Trocaire Boxes: Boxes for the Lenten appeal are now available. Please take one for your home. They can be collected in the porch.

The Faithful Departed: Anniversaries, Jim Ahern. May he rest in peace.

Tuesday 20th February is the anniversary of the Clonmult Ambush in which Twelve Volunteers died, two were later executed.
The local community have formed the ‘Clonmult Ambush Commemoration Committee’ to organise an annual public ceremony. On Sunday 25th February 2018 the 11 am mass in Clonmult will be celebrated to remember all those involved and at 12.30 there will be a ceremony at the battle site nearby. We are particularly interested in contacting the families of those involved. All welcome. Email, clonmult1921@gmail.com.

Clonmult Ambush Commemoration Committee would like to thank all those who supported their fund raising “Table Quiz” at the TWO MILE Inn on Friday night, Teams who took part, Sponsors, Tony and his staff, our back stage team and “Quiz Master” Tim. Many thanks to you all.

Parish Conversations: The Parish Conversations in preparation for the World Meeting of Families begin in Castlemartyr School on Monday evening, 19th February from 8.00 to 9.00 pm.

Dungourney GAA Social: Mass for deceased members on 24th February in Dungourney at 8.00 pm. Social afterwards at The Sportsman’s Inn in Mogeely. Presentation of Long Puck prizes, Table Quiz and Music. All are welcome.

Social Dancing. Clonmult Old School this Sunday, 18th February.
Music: DAVE REA. All are welcome.

Masses During the Week: Monday/Tuesday 9.30 am. Wednesday 9.30 am. (Clonmult) and 7.30 pm, (Dungourney). Thursday/Friday at 9.30 am.
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season, Ashes will be blessed and distributed at both Masses on Wednesday.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Dungourney Church on Thursday at 8.00 pm.

Last Week’s Collection: Door €349.61. Diocesan €310.00. Thank you.

The Faithful Departed: Anniversaries, Edmond, William and Mary Fitzgerald, Bill O’Driscoll. May they rest in peace.

Clonmult Church: New list for ministers of the Eucharist is now available and can be collected in the sacristy.

Dungourney Church: New list for the readers is now available and can be collected in the sacristy.

Day of Prayer for survivors and victims of abuse: Friday 16th February is the first Friday of Lent. It has been designated as a Day of Prayer for victims and survivors of abuse. All are asked to remember this intention in your prayers on Friday.

Table Quiz: Clonmult Ambush Commemoration Committee are holding a “TABLE QUIZ” at The Two Mile Inn, Midleton on Friday 16th February at 8.30 pm. Teams of Four €40. All are welcome. Contact Tim 086/8057262.

The East Cork Scór na bPaistí Final was held in Watergrasshill on Sunday afternoon last (4th February). Dungourney featured in four different competitions. Brian Flynn performed his widely acclaimed rendition of “The Hurler on the Ditch”, with his camán and sliotar and dressed in his Dungourney kit. Nobody in the hall was surprised that he came first when the results were announced at the end of the night, thereby going forward to the County competition taking place in Ovens on Sat 10th February. Lewis Costigan represented Dungourney in the solo dancing competition and gave an excellent performance – thankfully the judges agreed and Lewis was awarded first prize and went through to the next round of the competition in Ovens.

Next up were the ballad group which consisted of Lucy Flynn, Eimear McGrath, Cara Padden and Amy O’Reilly. All four girls are very strong, talented individual singers and they sang their two songs beautifully – “Caledonia” and “Níl na Lá” – so well that they were awarded second place and got lovely medals for their efforts. The last competition that Dungourney competed in was the polka set. The team was made up of three sets of sisters – the Flynns (Lucy & Rachel), the O’Donovan’s (Lauryn & Evie), the Corbys (Aoibhe & Chloe), Eimear McGrath and Darcy Voronins. They danced two parts of the Sliabh Luachra set. The girls gave a great account of themselves, as always, and were disappointed not to rank amongst the prize winners.

Scór na bPaistí is a great opportunity for children to perform on stage which has a number of benefits, not least helping to develop their confidence and self-esteem. The competitors learn a lot from the experience – the rewards of hard work, the necessity to remain calm under pressure and handle nerves, the joy of winning and, unfortunately, the disappointment of defeat. Well done to all those going on to represent East Cork in the County competition and best of luck, you’ll do the parish proud! Commiserations to all those children from Dungourney who were unsuccessful at different stages along the way…….there’s always next year!!

All roads led to Lisgoold on Sunday last (28th January) for the two semi-finals of the East Cork Scór na bPaistí competition. The parish was very well represented by all of our young contestants who did themselves, their parents and their teachers proud, irrespective of whether they made it through to the final or not. Darragh Fitzgerald gave a lovely rendition of “Molly Malone” in the solo singing competition. The standard was extremely high in this group – each competitor more talented than the next….with Dungourney not found wanting! Brian Flynn, a seasoned campaigner in the Scór recitation competition, entertained the audience with “The Hurler on the Ditch”, a very apt piece for a parish steeped in the hurling tradition….and he really looked the part in his Dungourney kit. The individual music competition had two representatives from Dungourney – both girls are members of Imokilly Comhaltas. Molly Leahy played “Island of the Woods” on the violin and Darcy Voronins played “Sweeney’s Buttermilk” on the tin whistle. Lewis Costigan participated in the individual dancing competition and his footwork and carriage were a pleasure to watch.

The ballad group consisted of Lucy Flynn, Eimear McGrath, Cara Padden and Amy O’Reilly who sang two songs – “Caledonia” and “Níl na Lá”. The girls are all lovely singers individually and came together really well with lovely harmony for “Caledonia” and the use of the bodhrán for “Níl na Lá”. Dungourney also participated in the sketch/drama competition, something that we hadn’t participated in for a few years. The plot centered around hosting the Ed Sheeran concert in the village instead of in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and it was clear that a huge amount of time and effort had gone into this from learning lines to having costumes, props etc. The play was written and directed by Emily Aherne from Tallow and those acting were Molly Leahy, Kate O’Riordan, Neil Hennessy, Katie Hennessy, Sorcha Joyce, Aimee Hickson O’Mahony and Sean Ryan.

The group music was very closely contested – the team consisted of Eamon Barry on the banjo, Aislinn McGrath on the violin, Darcy Voronins on the tin whistle and Aoibhe Corby on the concertina. They played “Island of the Woods” with lovely harmony and livened the place with their rendition of “Terry Teahan’s” polka. The final competition that Dungourney competed in was the polka set. The team of eight girls danced really well and their efforts practicing and perfecting their steps were evident on the night. The team was made up of three sets of sisters – the Flynn’s (Lucy & Rachel), the O’Donovan’s (Lauryn & Evie), the Corby’s (Aoibhe & Chloe), Eimear McGrath and Darcy Voronins. This made co-ordinating practices easier if nothing else!

Best of luck to all contestants going through to the East Cork Final on Sunday 4th February in Watergrasshill Community Centre. All support welcome! The competition has highlighted the level of talent locally and well done to all those who have participated at any stage, including the opening heats held in Dungourney school back in October. A special thanks to our local Scór co-ordinators (Claire Padden, Catherine Doocey and James Leahy) who do a lot of work behind the scenes, it is greatly appreciated.